Movers and Shakers

Edition 104: Guy Adams and Andy Welsh

Somerset sixth form college governors’ chair has been made a National Leader of Governance.

Guy Adams was given the two-year role with the National College for Teaching and Leadership, which is an executive agency of the Department for Education, in honour of his work at the Ofsted grade one-rated Richard Huish College.

He has been chair of the college corporation for eight years having also been a student there.

Mr Adams, a solicitor, director of two companies and manager of a property development and letting business, said: “I am looking forward to having the opportunity to improve governance in the schools, colleges and academies, and sharing the outstanding practice that we have developed at the college.”

Principal John Abbott said: “It is fantastic for us that we have Guy at the helm of our corporation and I congratulate him on his achievement. Schools and colleges that work with him in the future will be lucky to benefit from his leadership and experience as we have.”

Meanwhile, Bradford College has announced that its new group chief executive will be Andy Welsh.

Chemistry graduate Mr Welsh, who has completed an MBA at the University of Leeds, is currently the Bradford College Group chief operating officer.

He steps up to group chief executive following April’s announcement that Basingstoke College of Technology principal Anthony Bravo would be taking up the role.

However, Mr Bravo, who was recently involved in a Twitter row when he retweeted a post in which BBC presenter Jeremy Clarkson was described as a “c***”, pulled out of the move the following month citing distance and “potential impact on my family” as the reasons for his decision.

Mr Welsh will replace the retiring Michelle Sutton as group chief executive, while Kathryn Oldale will remain as college principal.

And a college spokesperson said Mr Welsh had the “enthusiastic support of the corporation in working with the executive team to build on the excellent reputation of the college and to further develop the performance and profile of the Bradford College Group”.

Mr Welsh, who began his career in personnel at Leeds City Council before moving to Joseph Priestley College where he rose to HR director and then director of resources, is due to take up the appointment in August this year.

He said: “I am very excited. The college and group both have a fantastic future ahead of them. We all have a part to play in ensuring we maximise our chances of success, so that we confirm our well-earned status of being a leading light and driving force in the sector.”